Mayor bravely took responsibility for spill

I am heartened by Mayor Mufi Hannemann's admission that he is responsible for the diversion of more than 48 million gallons of raw sewage into the Ala Wai Canal after the break in a pressurized sewage line. After more than 15 months as mayor it is impressive for him to accept responsibility after serving as a City Councilman and also as Council chairman during the time the Council allowed sewer funds to be raided by Mayor Harris instead of making repairs to deteriorating sewer lines.

When I was in the U.S. Navy for more than 21 years, it was without question that the new commanding officer, no matter how long in command, was responsible for the readiness of his crew and the maintenance of his ship. Hannemann has reflected this same integrity in accepting responsibility for his actions in the sewage spill that the EPA has deemed as the largest sewage spill ever in the United States.

While traveling around the world inspecting various rail systems to spend the $3 billion general excise tax increase that he gleefully signed into law, the mayor must have been equally impressed with the sewer systems that he so obviously has copied, too.

Good job Mufi, keep up the good work.

Garry P. Smith
Ewa Beach

Let students attend UH games for free

The University of Hawaii should consider giving students free admission to UH athletic events.

I attended a university on the mainland where students received free tickets to all the events. The number of free seats was limited; the students stood in line, first come, first served. When the allotted tickets were gone, that was it.

UH should consider a policy that the students can get free admission to athletic events after the game starts. Say the game starts and the season ticket holder is not present. That is a wasted seat. If students occupied those seats, at the very least the athletes get to play in front of more fans. And chances are the fans, whether they bought a ticket or not, will buy at least a drink or a snack while at the event.

When I compare the University of Hawaii basketball game and/or football game to one in, say, the Pac 10, the atmosphere is very different. UH does not have a student section like those in the Pac 10. There are the Manoa maniacs, but they are not provided with "good" seats. Instead, the good seats are occupied by the season ticket holders, who typically just sit there and do not make noise.

Jason Tani
Nuuanu

Some things just make you wonder

I find it strange that I cannot reach a live person by phone at Hawaiian Telcom.

Charles E. Frankel
Honolulu

Akaka performs well for constituents

Of the best U.S. senators, how did they vote on the resolution to go to war in Iraq? Akaka was among a handful of seven who voted against this resolution. To me, that took courage and conviction. Today, the action is costing us more than $500,000 billion.

And it has not done anything to bring democracy to Iraq.

Also, he has introduced the Akaka bill, which will help bring stability to the Hawaiian question. But the U.S. Senate has not passed it yet. It is easy to cast a stone or say one can do a better job. Have you approached or asked Akaka for help? I have asked for his help in a personal matter, and he has done it with dispatch and positive results. To me, he is outstanding and projects the aloha of Hawaii.

Alfred Akana
Honolulu

Akaka's vote against war was courageous

I disagree with former Hawaii resident Justin Leach's observation of Sen. Daniel Akaka ("Akaka has been kind but not effective"). I believe Senator Akaka has successfully stood up to the test of time in a national political arena rampant with backstabbing and lying.

Reflecting well upon the spirit of his Hawaiian culture and bringing great credit to our state, Senator Akaka has remained a true gentleman and leader.

For example, he carefully weighed his decision to vote against conducting a pre-emptive war invasion of Iraq. He is to be given high credit for his correct vote on this issue. The Republicans' primary reason for going to war in Iraq -- WMD -- has been proven wrong by none other than our U.S. military on the ground in Iraq.

However, his Democratic opponent in this year's election voted for the Iraq war -- which now has a U.S. military body count exceeding 2,300 and growing. I also strongly suspect no Republican candidate opposing Senator Akaka will have the guts to say the war in Iraq was started based on a lie.

So therefore who's the better leader for Hawaii? I pick Senator Akaka.

Diane O'Sullivan
Waialua

Case family has connection to Time

Is the timeliness of Time magazine's negative article on Senator Akaka simply coincidental to the fact that Ed Case, Akaka's rival for the Democratic nomination, is a cousin to Steve Case, the former chairman of the Time-Warner corporation, which owns the Time publication?

Larry T. Hayashida
Wahiawa

Is state fish really that important?

I was so relieved to see that a bill restating the humuhumu as Hawaii's state fish is set to go before Governor Lingle for her signature. Now, if the politicians could only use the same efficiency to find a solution for dumping sewage in the Ala Wai Canal (we in California do read the news) and solving the homeless problem at Ala Moana Beach Park, I might just be happy for the humuhumu!

Matthew Neavill
Former Hawaii teacher
Beverly Hills, Calif.

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